Industrial accident at Lawrence, KS plant kills 2 MagnaGro workers

Kansas employment attorneys alert- An industrial accident at a fertilizer plant left two people dead.

Lawrence, KS—A Lawrence fertilizer plant was draped in yellow crime scene tape and buzzing with police officers and medical teams following an accident that killed two workers and injured another on Thursday, April 1, 2010. Around 2:30 p.m., in a small industrial park on the east side of Lawrence, the industrial accident occurred as reported by The Kansas City Star.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Fire officials reported one worker fell into a tank of full of an unknown substance. Authorities would not disclose the nature of the substance inside the tank, but stated the substance is not usually hazardous unless it is inhaled in a closed area. It is unknown how the second person died or how the third worker was injured. The injured worker was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital where he was reportedly treated and released. A responding firefighter was reportedly treated at the hospital and released as well.

Fire and police officials are conducting a full investigation into the industrial accident. Hazardous material crews are at the scene and inspecting the substances to ensure there area is safe.

MagnaGro reportedly makes chemical fertilizers for resale across the country. This isn’t the first instance at the fertilizer plant; officials reported, “There have been past product released of different types that have been addressed through state and federal agencies.” In February 2009, the owner of MagnaGro, Raymond Sawyer, pled guilty to violating the federal Clean Air Act for dumping the plant’s waste into the Lawrence sewer system. In addition, over 200 gallons of fertilizer-like substance was released into a ditch after it leaked from a tanker truck in October.